Spotlight: Hawaiian Airlines Team Kokua

Hometown:

Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii  . USA

Established:

2013

Team Name:

Hawaiian Airlines Team Kokua

Competing in:

Mixed Open Division

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Moea DeFries – Flight Attendant
Moea joined Hawaiian in 2012 as a Flight Attendant servicing customers on Hawaiian’s direct flights to and from its 11 gateway cities in North America. She has more than 30 years of paddling experience and has competed at most major races and relays in Hawai‘i including Nā Wahine o Ke Kai, a popular all-women’s race from Moloka‘i to O‘ahu, and Pailolo Challenge from Maui to Moloka‘i. She is a current member of the Healani Canoe Club and past member of Nui Nalu Canoe Club and Waikīkī Surf Club. For the past five years, she has coached high school paddling teams at Mid-Pacific Institute and St. Andrew’s Priory School in Honolulu. In 2009, she was named Coach of the Year in the Girls Division II from the Interscholastic League of Honolulu (ILH). An accomplished hula dancer, she is a member of the Royal Dance Company, which performs with legendary Hawaiian musicians, the Brothers Cazimero, around the world.

David Doyle – Senior Manager, IT Security & Compliance
David oversees the Information Security & Compliance program for Hawaiian Airlines. He has been with Hawaiian since 2009, and has paddled for Kailua Canoe Club for three years and solo for nearly two years. His paddling experience includes participating in numerous sprint regattas and distance races throughout Hawai‘i such as the Henry Ayau Long Distance Canoe Race, a strenuous 33-mile race that starts from Maunalua Bay on O‘ahu’s south east shore to Nānākuli on the west coast.

Andrea Ignacio – Director of Payroll
Andrea has been working at Hawaiian since 2009. As Director of Payroll, she oversees all aspects of payroll and payroll tax compliance for Hawaiian’s more than 5,000 employees, in both domestic and international locations. She has seven years of paddling experience and has participated in numerous distance relays and races including the Moloka‘i Channel Race, Kaua‘i Relay, Maui-to-Moloka‘i Race, O‘ahu Coastal Relay and Queen Lili‘uokalani Canoe Race, the world’s largest long distance outrigger canoe race. In addition, she was a member of the Waikīkī Beachboys Canoe Club for five years.

Jeremy Jaentsch – Customer Service Chief Agent, Kona Station
Jeremy is the Customer Service Chief Agent at Hawaiian’s station at the Kona International Airport, where he oversees operations and leads the Kona team of customer service agents and ramp agents. He joined Hawaiian in 2006. Jeremy has two years of paddling experience and has been a member of noted canoe clubs on the Big Island of Hawai‘i such as Tui Tonga, Keauhou Canoe Club and Kai ‘Opua, where he has participated in numerous relays and races such as Kawaiahae Long Distance Race, Great Waikoloa Canoe Race at ‘Anaeho‘omalu Bay, Queen Lili‘uokalani Canoe Race and Moloka‘i Hoe, one of Hawai‘i’s longest running canoe races.

Lisa Kopacz – Customer Service Agent, San Diego Station
Lisa joined Hawaiian in 2011. As Customer Service Agent, she assists customers with reservations, ticketing, baggage and seating at Hawaiian’s station at the San Diego International Airport. She has more than 10 years of paddling experience and has participated in different relays and races including Dad’s Center Canoe Race on Oahu; Nā Wahine o Ke Kai, a popular all-women’s race from Moloka‘i to O‘ahu; Nā Pali Challenge on Kaua‘i; and several races throughout California including Crystal Pier, Rig Run, The Kahanamoku Klassic and Catalina Crossing U.S. Outrigger Championships.

Jennifer Polcer – Corporate Recruiter
As Corporate Recruiter, Jennifer is responsible for developing and executing the recruitment strategy and sourcing new talent as Hawaiian continues to expand in new markets. She has been with Hawaiian since 2010. Jennifer has paddled for the Waikīkī Beachboys Canoe Club since 2006 and has competed in the Nā Wahine o Ke Kai on O‘ahu and Moloka‘i-to-O‘ahu World Championship Race for the past eight years. She and her team have reaped numerous awards including winning the Nā Wahine o Ke Kai in 2011, holding first place at State Championships for her division the past eight years, and finishing first place at the Maui Nui Race in 2012 and 2011. In 2007, her team voted her Most Valuable Player. Before heading to New York City to participate in the Hawaiian Airlines Liberty Challenge, Jennifer will be competing in the Ola Mau race for the first time—a 100-mile race also known as the ultimate outrigger canoe challenge in Hawai‘i.